Cornus mas L. FLOWERS AS A NATURAL SOURCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT AGENTS: A PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MINERAL-BASED INVESTIGATION

Creative Commons License

Zengin R., Vurmaz M., MARAŞ Z., UĞUR Y., Aybar Ö., ERDOĞAN S.

Journal of Inonu University Vocational School of Health Services, cilt.14, sa.2, ss.498-509, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

This study presentsprovides a comprehensive characterization of the phytochemical profile, mineral composition, and biological potential of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) flowers, a plant part that has remained significantly under-investigated compared tothat has been significantly less studied than its fruits. Utilizing LC–Orbitrap–HRMS,A distinct phenolic fingerprint, identified using LC–Orbitrap–HRMS, was dominated by ellagic acid (102.36 mg/kg DW), syringic acid (99.97 mg/kg DW), and the flavanone glycoside neohesperidin (97.85 mg/kg DW). Elemental analysis via ICP-OES revealed a nutritionally densenutrient-dense matrix with exceptional accumulation of calcium and potassium. Furthermore, the total alkaloid content was determined to be a substantial was 4.87%, suggesting significant pharmacological relevance. In vitro antimicrobial assays demonstrated that the methanolic flower extract exhibited selective inhibitory efficacyhas selective inhibitory activity against Gram-positive pathogens, with the highest activity observed against Listeria monocytogenes (11.2 mm), followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The flower extract showed no efficacy against E. coli, presumably due to the restrictive nature of thelikely due to the low permeability of the Gram-negative outer membrane. These findings establish C. mas flowers as a potent source of bioactive molecules and essential minerals, highlighting their high potential as high-value ingredients for functional foods.